What Is Eggnog Made Out Of, Anyway?

Mmmmm, raw eggs.

Eggnog is pretty much synonymous with Christmas. What other time of year do we drink something that’s basically custard spiked with booze?

Whether you love it or hate it, chances are you don’t actually have any idea what’s in eggnog. The kind you buy in a carton is pretty mysterious ― just read the ingredients, and you’ll see it’s often filled with high fructose corn syrup and thickeners such as guar gum and carrageenan. YUM.

But what exactly is in the real, true, honest-to-goodness, homemade eggnog? Are there even eggs in there? And if so, are they raw or cooked? What else is even in there?

We’re settling this once and for all, breaking down what’s really in most traditional eggnog recipes. It’s not as terrifying as you might think, unless you’re counting calories. Or cholesterol. Or fat.

Whatever, it’s the holidays. Everything in moderation!

1Egg Yolks

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Every recipe uses a different number of egg yolks, but they are always present -- usually around four yolks per quart of finished eggnog. And yes, they are often left raw, just whisked in with the other ingredients and refrigerated. Here's a very scientific explanation for why there's very little risk of getting salmonella.

Some recipes also call for cinnamon, vanilla or other spices, but nutmeg is compulsory, and it's best when freshly grated.

7Whipped Egg Whites (Sometimes)

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Most recipes include this as an optional ingredient because people get so stressed about the fact that they're technically raw. Adding whipped egg whites to your eggnog lightens it up a bit, stretches it a little further and also makes use of the whites you separated from the yolks.